Sri Lanka seeks stronger tourism ties with Singapore through media partnership

Sri Lanka is seeking to strengthen its tourism ties with Singapore by building a closer partnership with the Singapore Press Club, recognising the media’s important role in promoting destinations and influencing international travel decisions.

Speaking at a banquet hosted for visiting Singapore Press Club members, Managing Director of Sri Lanka Tourism Promotion Bureau (SLTPB) Sanjaya Niroshana highlighted Sri Lanka’s unique geographical diversity, rich tourism experiences and strong air connectivity with Singapore as key advantages in attracting more Singaporean travellers.

He said Sri Lanka offered an exceptional variety of travel experiences within relatively short distances, making it a distinctive destination compared with competing tourism markets. “Within two hours of travelling from Colombo, visitors can experience the southern coastal environment, while Yala offers a wildlife experience comparable to destinations in Kenya and Central Africa. Travelling further to Ella provides a completely different landscape and atmosphere,” he said.

He noted that the ability to experience such diverse landscapes, ecosystems and attractions within a compact geographical area was one of Sri Lanka’s strongest tourism selling points. Niroshana described Singapore as an important source market for Sri Lanka tourism and said there was considerable potential to further expand bilateral tourism relations.

He also highlighted the strong air connectivity between the two countries, noting that Singapore was among Sri Lanka’s key air-connected markets after India. Addressing the visiting journalists, he emphasised that their experiences and impressions of Sri Lanka could play a significant role in shaping Singaporean travellers’ perceptions of the island. He invited the media representatives to share their experiences, photographs and stories through their respective media platforms, helping showcase Sri Lanka’s tourism attractions and hospitality to a wider Singaporean audience.

He expressed hope that the familiarisation visit would mark the beginning of a long-term partnership between the Singapore Press Club and Sri Lanka Tourism, creating further opportunities for destination promotion and media cooperation. He also thanked the Singapore Press Club for accepting the invitation and participating in the visit, while acknowledging the support of the Sri Lankan High Commissioner in Singapore and his team in organising the programme. Concluding his remarks, Niroshan said he hoped the visitors would leave Sri Lanka with not only photographs but also with unforgettable memories and stories that would inspire others to discover the island.